Breach of ISRO security not deliberate, say police

The Jeevanbimanagar police have concluded that Buela M. Sam, who was arrested recently for intruding into the Indian Space Research Organisation premises in Bangalore, has “a mental disorder” and her breaching ISRO security was not a deliberate attempt.

The police, while producing her before the 10th Additional Metropolitan Magistrate court after four days of custody, said she had been suffering from “a mental disorder” for the past six years and had discontinued medication after her father died in September. In fact, her father, Dr. Samuel, was a psychiatrist and was treating her till he died on September 11, the police said in their remand application.

When the police didn’t seek additional police custody, Ms. Sam’s counsel filed a bail application, the hearing on which has been posted for October 12. She has been remanded in judicial custody till then.

However, the investigating team is yet to confirm her intentions behind visiting the ISRO campus. The preliminary inquiry so far has pointed to a fascination as she resides near a similar campus in Ahmedabad.

“But we are yet to confirm how a mentally unsound person could precisely visit both the guesthouse and later the headquarters — Antariksh Bhavan — on new BEL Road, after getting forged ID cards. It looks like a planned work and not a job done by a person with an unsound mind,” a senior police official said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) T. Krishna Bhat said: “[Her interrogation] is over and hence we did not seek extension of custody.